JUDICIARY INTERIM COMMITTEE
Wednesday, August 9, 2023 | 1:15 PM | 20 House Building

1.    Committee Business

·         Call to order and approval of the minutes from the June 14, 2023 meeting

 

2.    Committee Bill on Sexual Offenses

Staff will present draft legislation that addresses the call for legislative action in State v. Mitchell (2023) to clarify the child-rape statute. The Judiciary Interim Committee voted to open this committee bill file in its May meeting.

·         Shad Larson, Associate General Counsel, Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel

·         Committee discussion/action

3.    Justice Court Reform Task Force Update

The committee will receive an update regarding the Justice Court Reform Task Force, which the Legislature created in 2023 to explore and recommend reforms to Utah’s justice court system.

·         Senator Kirk Cullimore

·         Committee discussion/action

4.    Sexual Harassment in the Workplace

The committee will hear a proposal to make void and unenforceable any clauses in employee contracts that prohibit the disclosure of sexual harassment and sexual assault in the workplace.

·         Kimberly Bernhardt, Policy and Community Advocate

·         Committee discussion/action

 

5.    Mental Health and Criminal Justice Working Group Update

The committee will receive an update regarding the working group that the committee authorized to study competency to stand trial, civil commitment, and ways to improve the delivery of mental health services.

·         Representative Tyler Clancy

·         Committee discussion/action

 

6.    The State of Homelessness in Utah

The committee will hear a presentation on the state of homelessness in Utah, including how the issue of homelessness intersects with the criminal justice system.

·         Wayne Niederhauser, Utah Homelessness Coordinator

·         Committee discussion/action

                                    

7.    Implementation of HB461 “Airport Firearm Possession Amendments” (2023)

The committee will consider issues related to the implementation of HB461 “Airport Firearm Possession Amendments”, which passed in the 2023 legislative session. The bill decriminalized possession of a dangerous weapon at an airport with criminal negligence, but some legislators have concerns with how the law has been interpreted and enforced.

·         Representative Stephanie Gricius

·         Salt Lake Police Association

·         Salt Lake County District Attorney

·         Salt Lake City Police Airport Division

·         Committee discussion/action

 

8.    Other Items/Adjourn